UK stocks pull back from record as pound lifts to two-week high

Sterling gets a boost on Brexit extension hopes

UK stocks fell Friday, under pressure as the pound climbed to a nearly two-week high on prospects for a smoother exit for Britain out of the European Union, writes MarketWatch.

The FTSE 100 index gave up 0.4% to 7,527.75, with only the basic materials sector showing a gain. The index was looking at a flat move for the week.

“UK stocks began the session downbeat. The correction could deepen into the weekly closing bell as Brexit uncertainties loom before [the] October 19/20 summit in Brussels, while the pound is subject to upside pressures,” said LCG senior market analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya in a note.

Brexit hopes lift sterling: The London benchmark fell as the pound climbed above $1.33 for the first time since October 2, according to FactSet data. Sterling was pushed higher after German newspaper Handelsblatt late Thursday reported that the EU may offer a two-year Brexit transition deal to Britain.

On Thursday, the pound dropped below $1.32 after Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said not enough progress had been made for the EU and the UK to start discussing their future trade relationship. The pound’s slide helped usher the FTSE 100 to an all-time record close, with a rise of 0.3% to 7,556.24.

EU officials are set to meet next week from October 19 to 20, to determine the way forward on Brexit discussions.

But multinationals suffer: A stronger pound tends to hurt shares of multinational companies that make the bulk of their earnings overseas.

Other stock movers: Mining shares rose after a report showed Chinese imports rose 18.7% in September, outstripping the 15% gain expected. China, the world’s second-largest economy, is a major buyer of industrial and precious metals. Shares of Glencore picked up 0.7%, and BHP Billiton moved up 0.5% in London.

GKN PLC shares dropped 5.8%. The engineering group said Friday its third-quarter margin performance was lower than a year ago, mainly because of operational challenges in its North American aerospace division.

Advancers on the FTSE 100 included educational publisher Pearson and miner Rio Tinto, with shares up 1.3% and 1.1%, respectively.